The first proofs sent out by the printer are called "galley-slips,"
or "galleys."[38] These are supposed to give the author opportunity
to make such changes as are absolutely necessary. When returned to
the printer, these galleys are made up into "page-proofs,"[38] and
frequently go again to the author, or the type may be "cast" (made
into electrotype plates) at this point. When page-proofs are submitted
to the author, the publisher expects him to revise them, making sure
that all his galley corrections have been properly made, rather than
to make further corrections, as changes in the pages are still more
expensive than in the galleys. If changes must be made, the author
should endeavor to have the correction occupy exactly the same space as
the matter cut out, or to cut out further matter to make room for the
addition. Otherwise, the page so corrected will contain more than the
standard number of lines, which must be thrown forward, and the make-up
of each page changed to the end of the chapter.
Competent proofreaders in the best offices frequently call the
attention of the author to errors in dates, figures, or proper names,
but this should always be regarded by the author as a courtesy
rather than as something which the printer is expected to do. The
proofreader, on the other hand, is supposed to have corrected every
typographical error, and for the author to mark corrections which have
been overlooked is a courtesy on the part of the author. The fact that
the author or editor has passed over typographical errors in no way
relieves the proofreader of his responsibility.
The proofreader is expected to correct any obvious error without
hesitation, but to make no other changes. If he thinks a change should
be made, it will take the form of a query in the margin to the author.
The author should carefully note all such queries, and answer them
or strike them out, bearing in mind that if he accepts the query the
change necessitated in the type becomes an author's correction, the
expense of which falls upon the publisher.
Any marks on the proofs for correction should be made distinct by
drawing a short line through the letter to be changed, etc., placing in
the margin the recognized sign indicating the change, _exactly opposite
the line in which the change is to be made, and in the order in which
the necessary alterations occur_. In doing this be sure to write
legibly, and do not cover the proof with lines and counter-lines.
The author should familiarize himself with the standard proofreading
marks, and employ these in marking all corrections upon the proofs
which are sent him. These marks are as follows:
[Illustration: PROOF MARKS
THE above marks are the ones most generally used in proofreading. There
are many others that are required in different classes of work, but
these are in the main self-explanatory. This display of proof marks and
their meanings has been prepared for THE GRAPHIC ARTS and endorsed by
the Boston Proofreaders Association.